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The princess's excellent birthday party.

Once upon a time, in a small, rocky kingdom, a princess was having a birthday party.

The king, who loved parties only a little less than his daughter,

wanted it to be the biggest, best, most excellent birthday party ever. And so he invited everyone.

All their friends got invitations, and of course, all of their family. So too did all of their

acquaintances and all of the workers about the castle. But even after they had all been invited,

the king felt he needed even more guests. He was on a role and having the time of his life.

Um, I think that's probably enough, Dad, the princess said.

She, unlike her father, preferred smaller, quiet gatherings with poems and games.

I'd really rather just have like a little thing, maybe a couple friends and... Nonsense, my little girl needs the biggest party ever, he proclaimed.

Why should we stop at just human guests?

He invited all the animals about the grounds, everyone from the Duke's pet dog to the

knight's war horses, stomping and snorting in their stables.

He had royal pages run down climbing cats and slide invites into the mouse holes.

...